Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Trees, Shrubs, & Vines

Winter's Hollies (page 4 of 5)

by Michael MacCaskey

Deciduous Hollies

These are used primarily in the Northeast, but are becoming more important in the Midwest. All have waxy berries in various shades of red, orange and yellow. Berries cover leafless branches until consumed by birds, late December in most cases.

Ilex decidua
Possum Haw Holly  Hardy to -10°F. The showiest of the native deciduous hollies, this plant develops into a large shrub or small tree approximately 25 feet tall. Leaves are 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 inches long, dark green, occasionally glossy. Berries form singly or in small clusters on short spurs; colors vary between bright orange to red. They persist well into winter, generally longer than those of I. verticillata. Pollinated by I. opaca as well as by male of own species. All of the following are shrubs 15 to 18 feet tall. Native of southeastern and central U.S.

Ilex serrata
Finetooth Holly  Hardy to -15°F. Medium-size shrub, four to eight feet tall. Branches and twigs show prominent pores known as lenticels." Leaves 1-1/2 to three inches long, 3/4-inch wide with sharply toothed margins. Berries about 1/4-inch in diameter. Native of Japan and China where it is a favored bonsai subject.

'Sun Drops'. Outstanding yellow-berry variety.

Hybrids of Ilex serrata and I. verticillata
Winterberry Hybrids. Hardy to -15°F.
All varieties are good, though some show color earlier than others.